Collected Illustrations of the Three Realms: Volume on Plants and Trees, Part 8

Page 9

Mangcao

original: 莽草 (mangcao); Illicium lanceolatum. Commonly known as Mountain Star Anise, this plant is notoriously toxic and must be distinguished from the edible Star Anise used in cooking.

Mangcao is also called Gangcao original: 崗草; "Mountain Grass". It originates in the ancient regions of Shanggu an area in modern-day Hebei province and Yuanju an area in modern-day Shandong province. Today, it is found throughout the southern prefectures of Nanzhong covering parts of modern Yunnan, Guizhou, and southern Sichuan and across the river regions of Sichuan.

The wood of this plant resembles the Chinese Photinia original: 石南 (shinan), though its leaves are sparser, and it is described as having no flowers or fruit. The leaves should be harvested during the fifth and seventh months and dried in the shade. One account describes it as a climbing vine that winds itself between trees and rocks.

It is also known by the names Xi original: 葈 and Spring Grass original: 春草 (chunchao). Its flavor is a combination of pungent and bitter; it is warm in nature and contains toxins. It is primarily used to treat "wind-head" wind-head (風頭): a traditional term for headaches, dizziness, or facial paralysis attributed to external "wind" pathogens, carbuncles and swellings, breast abscesses, and abdominal masses or hernias. It is used to eliminate stagnant energy original: 結氣 (jieqi), treat scabies and various itchy skin conditions, and can be used as a pesticide to kill insects and fish. Additionally, it is used to treat throat obstructions original: 喉痺 (houbi); a condition where the throat is swollen and blocked and difficulties with lactation.